The Power of Floyd Mayweather

By
ETONLINE

There's nothing like the atmosphere of a big-time championship fight night. And no one understands this better than Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The boxer has built a stunning business model under which he is more than just a star under the lights in the ring. From choosing the opponent and weighing in on the positioning of the camera angles, to getting celebrity friends like Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne to make an appearance, he has a hand in all aspects of his boxing matches. Floyd's fights aren't just a boxing event, it's a full-on spectacle.


"We like to choose the best opponent for everyone. Not just myself but for the fans also," he told ET at this year's ESPY Awards.

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The prizefighting showman knows what he's doing and has been reaping big pay days for more than a decade. According to Forbes, "Money" Mayweather has earned almost $400 million in the ring since 1996. And the man is not afraid to flaunt it!

Showtime and CBS signed the fighter to a blockbuster six-fight deal in 2013, which at the time was called the "richest individual athlete deal in all of sports." This past year alone he earned $105 million for two fights against Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana, not to mention he made a brief cameo in Think Like A Man Too, making him Forbes' Highest Paid Athlete in 2014.

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Back in May, Mayweather and Maidana fought in what became one of the closest fights in Mayweather's career. He won the fight and kept his streak of 45 undefeated fights. The two will have a rematch on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated fights of the season.

Boxing may very well be his passion but on Tuesday he announced that he plans to retire at the conclusion of his Showtime contract, most likely next September.

Watch the video for an inside look at the world's highest-paid athlete. You can catch Mayweather vs. Maidana this Saturday on Showtime PPV.

Follow Denny on Twitter @DDirecto.